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Wolves: Journalist calls for new right-back after poor Nelson Semedo and Jonny performances

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Image for Wolves: Journalist calls for new right-back after poor Nelson Semedo and Jonny performances

The Express & Star’s Liam Keen has slammed the recent performance of Wolves defender Nelson Semedo, claiming the Old Gold need another right-back.

Keen tore into the Portuguese ace’s display after Wolves’ weekend defeat, while criticism also came in for teammate Jonny, who replaced the full-back in the second half at Molineux.

Semedo started his fifth game in a row for the Old Gold as he kept hold of his starting role under new boss Julen Lopetegui, but was hooked in the second half after being booked in the first.

Although predominantly a left-back, Jonny has been deployed across the backline this season and was again used as a substitute with his minutes rapidly depleting at Molineux.

The 28-year-old started 11 of the opening 12 Premier League games, but has seen just 25 minutes in the previous three matches.

Following Wolves’ defeat, Keen spoke on the Express & Star’s YouTube channel and claimed that a decision has to be made over their poor options at right-back.

He said: “Semedo had a good 10 minutes, and then after that was booked, and I thought was all over the place.

“Jonny looked slow, laboured when he came on; he looked off the pace completely, didn’t look fit, so who are you going to play there?

“It was a difficult position for Lopetegui to be in – that’s why Wolves need a right-back.”

TIF Thoughts on Keen’s comments…

It’s not a result that Wolves would’ve hoped for as Lopetegui’s ‘new manager bounce’ was brought back down to earth following their last-gasp winner at relegation rivals Everton last week.

Wolves have already begun their January business in exciting fashion by snapping up forward Matheus Cunha on loan with a £43m obligation to buy in the summer.

The Molineux side will now be looking to strengthen again, and we feel right-back is indeed an area of weakness, with match-winner Marcus Rashford getting his goal following a weaving run down that flank.

With Semedo the only out-and-out right-back at the club and fortunate not to have given away a goal himself in the first half, it does appear a glaring area of improvement for Lopetegui as January’s window opens.

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